Do You Need a Food Handlers Card to Sell Coffee?

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, and it just happens that I’m drinking coffee while writing this.

Many people brew coffee at home, yet they frequently purchase it from bistros and coffee shops during errands or social gatherings with friends, making these venues popular spots for a caffeine fix.

However, if you have thought about getting into the coffee biz, you might wonder whether you need to take a food handler training course and earn a food handlers card first.

This article explains whether you need a food handlers card to sell coffee and lists the steps to earning one fast.

When you need a food handlers card to sell coffee

Whether you need a food handlers card to sell coffee depends on various factors related to your type of business, the form of coffee you want to sell (beans vs. beverage), and where you live.

If you operate a cottage food business — or are thinking about starting one — you can generally sell roasted coffee beans, but not coffee as a beverage, under most state’s cottage food laws.

The cottage food laws are less clear on whether you can offer complementary beverage coffee to your customers — similar to banks, car dealerships, and the like.

Whether you have to earn a food handlers card to sell roasted coffee beans as a cottage food business depends on the state in which you live.

Currently, there are 17 states that require a food handlers card — which must ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited — or other state-approved training to operate a cottage food business and sell roasted coffee beans and other types of approved foods.

If you want to sell coffee as a beverage (hot or cold), you generally must be licensed as a food establishment with your county or state.

A food establishment is any place where food is stored, processed, prepared, manufactured, or otherwise held for retail sale. Examples of retail food establishments include coffeehouses, mobile food trucks, and of course, restaurants.

Nearly every state requires that at least one person at a food establishment be a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM), whereas nonmagement food workers may need to earn a food handlers card if it’s required by local or state law or the employeer.

How to earn a food handlers card fast

Before you can sell roasted coffee beans and other types of goods, most state’s cottage food laws require you to earn a food handlers card or take a state-approved food safety course.

However, you cannot earn any food handlers card — it must be ANAB-accredited.

To get started, enroll in an ANAB-accredited food handler course, such as FoodSafePals.

Most food handler courses — including FoodSafePal’s — are offered online for convenience. After you enroll, complete the course modules.

Food handler courses are designed for food workers at retail food establishments so some of the content isn’t applicable to cottage food operators. But, they still teach you the necessary food safety principles you must know to keep your customers safe from foodborne illnesses.

After you complete the course modules, you must pass a multiple-choice test over this content.

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course test consist of 40 multiple-choice questions and you need to answer at least 28 correctly (70%) to pass and earn your food handlers card. Most people can learn and test in well under two hours.

You can immediately download or print your ANAB-accredited food handlers certificate and wallet-sized cards after passing.

In states that require food handler training to operate a cottage food business, you usually have to include proof of your training with the application.

Your food handlers card will be valid for three years, unless you live in Texas, in which case it’s two years.

You must keep your food handlers card active while in business by renewing it every two to three years by retaking and passing an ANAB-accredited food handler course.

The bottom line

If you’re considering entering the coffee business, you may need a food handlers card, particularly if you plan to operate a cottage food business in one of the 17 states that require such training.

Under most state cottage food laws, you can sell roasted coffee beans but not coffee as a beverage. To sell coffee as a drink, you usually must be licensed as a food establishment.

If you need a food handlers card, it must be ANAB-accredited, and you can obtain one by enrolling in an online course, completing the necessary training, and passing a test.